Sen. Mark Begich (D., Alaska) is fundraising on his desire to put an end to gender pay inequality, but women currently working in his Senate office are making just 71 cents for each dollar paid to men.

“Alaska women make just 74 cents on the dollar compared to Alaska men,” wrote Begich in an email to supporters this week. “And anyone who wants to tell Alaska women that they’re not working hard enough should be ready to find out just how tough Alaska women are.”

The average female salary in Begich’s office is a staggering $23,504 less than the average male salary. Women working for Begich are paid just 71 cents for each dollar paid to men, even less than the statewide statistic used by the senator in his email.

Begich lags behind his fellow Democratic senators on the issue of equal pay. Though more than two-thirds of Democratic senators pay women less than men, the average male salary is just over $5,500 higher, which is far less than the $23,504 gap that exists for Begich.

“Equal pay for equal work is more than just a matter of fairness—it’s a smart way to help working families achieve the American dream,” wrote Begich.